Prime Highlights
- Ponce states the book holds the architecture industry and academia accountable for the progress that still remains to be made.
- Ponce argues that true inclusion goes beyond intent and requires measurable progress in licensure, equal pay, and leadership representation.
Key Facts
- APMonarch is a Chicago-based, female- and Latina-owned architecture firm founded by Alicia Ponce, focused on designing healthy buildings and equitable communities.
- Only 2% of licensed architects in the United States are Hispanic or Latina women, according to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ 2025 demographic statistics.
Background
Chicago-based author, entrepreneur, and architect Alicia Ponce has announced the release of Latinas in Architecture Vol. III, the latest addition to her ongoing anthology series. Slated for release in March, the book features personal stories from a new group of multicultural Latina architects whose journeys span the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, and Puerto Rico.
First launched in 2021, the Latinas in Architecture series documents the beginnings, challenges, and triumphs of Latinas working in architecture. The third volume continues that mission by amplifying voices from a broader, more diverse group of contributors. Ponce described the book as a testament to Latina leadership and resilience in architecture, while also serving as a call to hold the profession and academia accountable for progress still needed.
The volume features contributions from 19 authors, including a foreword by Tatiana Bilbao, alongside writers such as Angelica Arent, Gloria Kloter, Shadia Jaramillo, Katherine Darnstadt, and others from across the Americas.
Beyond the book, Ponce leads Arquitina, a national nonprofit that supports Latinas pursuing their architectural licence through mentorship cohorts and awareness campaigns. The initiative addresses a stark gap in the profession. According to the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards’ 2025 statistics, only 2% of licensed architects in the United States are Hispanic or Latina women.
Ponce stated that true inclusion requires the profession to actively support an equitable path to licensure, equal pay, and leadership representation — and to measure that progress consistently.
